Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1887-12-30

were Inefe- AL ludt tlIile Iue cilIureu
were among servants-young children.
that have such active minds. My dear,
l know I'm only a foreboding, anxious
old maid; but when l read in the paper
the stories that shock us so, about girls
who have been reared in wealth and
position, and elope with their father 5
servants. bethink me that there is a
simple reason back of every wonder.
If girl through many hours of her
early fe has found her best comfort
and entertainment from some good
natured cook. or coachman, or gar
dener, why should we think like asso-
Citations would prove repulsive to her
afterward? Don'tyou remember what
fascination for your Jessie that slim,
handsome mulatto. Jim, had?"
Margaret, OH Margaret"
81 know; but I shivered to see her
lowering about the buffers pantry
whenever she could escape Elise. He had
some monkey tricks and little songs and
stories that appealed to her imagina-
tion and delighted her. You yourself
told me, laughing, how when John was
to be away one evening, and Jessie
heard you say you would be lonely, she
replied: Send for Jim, mamma; he's
real good company. Hove him.
But she was only six years old; a
little childr'
"Yes, but it seems to me even a child
of six who had always been her
mothers companion would have felt
relationships better than that"
"Why did not you speak, Margaret?'
Il could not then. can now. The
danger is over now. Helen, be thankful
with me that your work is right here
at home. where your little girls are,
where they may learn to help you in it
and be close to you.
Helen drew long breath, but she
did not speak.
'.And there are some other suspected
interventions that l MISS" continued
Margaret Those two pretty house
maids, with the white caps and the
pink cheeks and bright eyes. who
swept and busted and waited so beauti-
fully; and the coachman, with the shin
ing carriage and horses, that came so
punctually to your door every morn
ing-they stood between you and your
health. | felt almost sure of it. Don't t
you remember the headache and lam
guor you used to suffer from9 And the
'rubbists' that used to visit you, and
the doctors electrical treatments?'
Il couldn't affor them now," said
Mrs. Worden. "Such bills would ruin
us"
"And now you do not need them. You
look so firm and active, and you have
such color in your cheeks. Forgive
me, dear, but / noticed the mouthfuis
you took between spreading the baby's
bread and cutting Mabcrs meat and
helping me, and ] saw that you were
hungry
81 hardly have time to know it, but
am really hungry ut meat-times. And
l have wondered to find how many
hours ut % time | could be OH my feet.
Indeed. am thankful for better health.
What should L have done without it?
"And, my dear. where is Johns ci-
gar?"
''Oh, he gave it up. Wasn't it good
of him? Right in the mi;lst of the trou-
bic, too. l was frightened to have
him do it. and yet | was glad. When
/ married him ! thought L liked the
odor of a good cigar; but it was getting
TO be always in his mouth. was jeal-
Gus of it. 1t seemed 10 make him in
different even to me. Yes, l will own
that was an Intervention between us.
Margaret. And oh! how good and kind
he is! If you were not here he would
be reading his paper to me. and talk
ing about it, too.
Then l am an Intervention now?"
''No, no; it's far better to talk with
you than to hear any newspaper. But,
indeed. our trouble has brought us
nearer to one another He has been
my great. great comfort" "
''And you have been his. Dear Hell
en-, l think you have taken it all so
nobly,"
The tears came to Helen's eyes, and
she wept u little with her head upon
her friends shoulder. Presently she
said:
1--WE have learned to say, Give us
this day our daily bread with some
real asking in the prayer. :"
There were interventions. between
you and God swept away in that lossP"
"Yes; we had to come near to Him,
asking for common fthings-shelter and
work, and strength and sense to know
how to live this new life"
Then, if God has put you in better
possession of your health, and your
children, and your husband, and Him.
self this year, don't you think we ought
to have growing. happy year?"
"Does he always leave the bestP"
said Helen.
always; He only takes what inter-
yenes between us and that"
And there Wds very happy New
Years next day. when Mr. and
Mrs. Wordcn, with Maurice. went
peacefully to church, and Margaret
took Jessie into the kitchen with her
and allowed her to help dress the tur-
key, and make the cranberry sauce.
and "snow" the potatoes-yes, and
even let her make l'mon pudding
with her own hands. Over that pud-
ding was more pride and rejoicing than
over the finest royal diploma ique'
that ever French cook manufactured.
1t is true there were only two courses
ut that dinner, instead of seven us at
last years, and there was no company
except Margaret. But there were some
flowers, which she had secretly sent
Bridget AMI Mabel and the baby To
buy; and there were four good chill
dren, who did not come and 90 with
the dessert, but sat all through the DIM
ner like little gentlemen and ladies,
and were unspeakably happy playing
games afterward.
And when they were in BED their
. htiiar Said, th0Mshtfufiy: